Inclosure for educating silkworms



Feb. 18, 1947. M. H. MEAD 2,416,037

INCLOSURE FOR EDUCATING SILKWORMS Filed Jan. 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig.1.

0km KM Feb. 18, 1947. M. H. MEAD 2,415,037

INCLOSURE FOR EDUCATING SILKWORMS Filed Jan. 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Feb. 18, 1947. M 2,416,037

INCLOSURE FOR EDUCATING SILKWORMS Filed Jan. 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Feb. 18, 1947. M. H. MEAD INCLOSURE FOR EDUCATING S ILKWORMS Filed Jan.22, 1942 4 ShegtsSheet 4 wwwtoo Patented Feb. 18, 1947 ENCLOSURE FOREDUCATING SILKWORMS Marvin H. Mead, Savannah, Ga., assignor of onehalfto Constance V. Mead, Savannah, Ga.

Application January 22, 1942, Serial No. 427,745

4 Claims.

This invention relates to agriculture, especially to husbandry, and moreparticularly to sericulture, and an important object of my invention isto provide an improved apparatus for, the education of the filamentproducing Lepidoptera, of which the silkworm of commerce is the mostconspicuous example at present, the term education being used herein asa conveniently brief designation for the treatment of the individuals ofthis species throughout their life history, including their variousmetamorphoses, rather than simply in the conventionally more restrictedsense where the term is applied to the larvae subsequent to hatching andeventuating in the formation of the cocoon, the term as used hereinbeing not limited theretofore to any narrow technical significance.

I have made the discovery that the silk. filament produced underconditions which involve increased effort and initiative upon the partof these larvae is of superior strength, brilliance and regularity ofdiameter, so that the entire length of filament in a cocoon can beutilized, instead of only selected parts thereof, as in the past, andthus it is now only desirable to provide for such enclosure of the treesas will secure protection of the silkworms from birds, predatoryinsects, and the smaller animals, leaving ample room for caretakers.

From the following disclosure, it will be seen clearly that my inventionprovides a novel, sturdy and completely insect-proof, vermin-proof andenemy-excluding structure, and is of general utility for screen doors,aside from the particular use for it in the agricultural enclosureillustrated.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as thedescription of the now-preferred embodiment of the invention selectedfor illustration herein progresses.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference have beenapplied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which makeup the drawings, in which:

Fig. I is a fragmentary horizontal view of one of the four outsidecorners of the top, showing detail construction of assembled parts;

Fig. II is a fragmentary vertical view of one of the four corners of theoutside walls, from the top to the under ground construction of theinclosure;

Fig. III is a perspective view of a preferred form of apparatus forcarrying the invention into effect;

Fig. IV is a fragmentary detail view in perspective at an angle of 4.5degrees above one of the four corners of the inclosure with the top tornaway to show walls on one side secured to the corner upright while theother is separated to show their related parts;

Fig. V is a fragmentary detail View in perspective looking from anelevated viewpoint toward frame parts in course of assembly, and whichwill be described at length;

Fig. VI is a like View of a joint in course of assembly;

Fig. VII is a fragmentary vertical View in perspective of the doorwaywith portions of the frame broken away to show detailed construction ofthe frame surrounding doorway of my novel inclosure for sericulture;

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary detail view of a vertical portion inperspective of door frame with the outside door hinged to the outsidedoor frame also the inside door hinged to the inside of door frame withparts of construction broken away to show frame work formation;

Fig. IX is a vertical cross section drawn through the tops of theinclosure and the outer walls and the open not work of the panels of thedoors, and sill, and construction below the surface of the ground;

Fig. X is a fragmentary detail View of a vertical cross section ofspaced coarse and fine wire fabrics.

The Figs. II, III and V of the enclosure having the reference character33 designate an upright studding member, of which portions of three areshown in Fig. III and only a small number is shown in Fig. IV, it beingunderstood that as many will be provided as are required to support theWalls which surround the sides of the enclosure and the top thereof, theframework for the top being fabricated of longitudinal members 3% and35, and cross-pieces 35 shown in Figs. I, III to VI and IX, whichreceive additional support from other uprights 31, Figs. I and III, thlatter being disposed in a series of rows which define aisles withinwhich the attendants may move freely.

An ordinary cardboard box X, as shown in Fig. IX, having within a numberof cocoons 45, the male moth M, and the female moth FM, of (Bombyx mori)depositing eggs E, on the rough under surface R, of the lid L, the lineA, when out out will produce an egg-holder H, with eggs E.

The composition of the side walls and roof is a factor of the highestimportance in securing the above-mentioned exclusion of enemies, and myimproved structure includesthe provision of an inner fine-mesh wirefabric s? shown in Figs.

I to IV and VII to X, constructed and arranged to exclude insectenemies, such as wasps, hornets, bugs and spiders, this fabric beingsecured in place upon the uprights 33 and between the horizontal binderbinding strips :19 and 50, Figs. I to V and VII to X; also upon thehorizontal frame members 35, Figs. I, III, VI and IX, of the roof bymeans of strips 48, Figs. I, III and IX, and outer edge horizontalbinders 89, Figs. I, II, IV and IX, fastened by nails or screws.

Outside of this inner fine-mesh wire fabric 41, and spaced therefrom ata distance of say four inches on the sides, and two inches on the roof,is a coarse mesh wire fabric 38 shown in Figs. I to IV and VII to X,mounted upon the outside of the uprights 33 and horizontal binders 69 bybinding strips se, Figs. I to IV and VII to X, to be described more atlength.

The purpose of so spacing the outer coarse wire fabric 38 from the innerfabric i! of fine wire shown in Figs. IX and X, is to make it impossiblefor birds having long beaks BB, and both birds and beasts having longtalons, and claws, to reach through the coarse meshes of the outerfabric and tear holes in the inner fabric, thus opening the way forentrance of the insect enemies already mentioned.

It may be desirable, under certain conditions, to provide, within thefine wire mesh fabric, an innermost fabric ofnon-metallic material asshown in Figs. I to IV and IX, such as cheesecloth, nailed, or otherwisesuitably secured, as at 52, spaced a short distance from the fine wirefabric, shown in Figs. I, II, III and IX thereby providing perfectprotection for all kinds of lepidoptera.

In making the enclosure, it will be noted that there need be no waste offabric, as the wire cloth can be applied from a roll and tacked on forthe full length of the roll on the enclosure. The surface of the stripswhere the wire cloth is being tacked on should be freshly painted,including the binder strips outside the wire cloth. In general, alljoints and pieces should be freshly painted immediately prior to theirassembly, to protect the wood from decay and termites and the wire clothfrom rusting beneath the binder strips. 7

The underground parts of the enclosure, as

shown in Figs. II, III and IX, include the provision of spikes 53 driveninto the bottom ends 54 of the uprights 3'3, the latter being embedded.in masses 55 of concrete shown in Figs. II, III

and IX, having first been treated with creosote, asphalt or tar, asindicated by the blackened portions in the drawings, similar treatmenthaving been given to the uprights 33 and also to the heavy board 55 inFigs. II, III, VII and IX, serving to prevent burrowing animals inimicalto the silkworms from entering; also to prevent decay and the ravages oftermites.

Above the board 55, embedded in the ground G as just described, isfastened the sill 5'! in Figs. III and VII to IX, and in continuationthereof is fixed the doorsill 58 shown in Figs. HI, VII, VIII and IV, ofthe doorway 59, through which access is gained to the enclosure, andexit therefrom. The doorway can, and preferably will, be closed by anouter door 69 of coarse wire fabric 38 and an' inner door 61 of finewire fabric 41 in Figs. III, VII, VIII and IX, thus completing at thedoorway the same protection as that afforded by th wire fabric sidewalls and roof, already described.

The reference character 62in Figs. III and VII to IX, designates atongue on the door sill so disposed as to co-operate with a lip 63formed on each of the doors also shown in Figs. III, VIII and IX, thedoor sill having a bevelled sill edge 68 in Figs. III and VII, to IX,constituting a close joint when the door is closed by means of hinges I4. The lip 63 is ShOWn as extending entirely around each door, Figs.III, VIII and IX.

While the details of framework of the enclosure are susceptible ofconsiderable modification, I have found the following novel constructiondevised by me to contribute desirably to the sturdiness and tightness ofthe enclosure for the intended use. Referring first to Figs. III, V, VIIand VIII, it will be seen that the upright 33 is provided with notchesor horizontal slots 65, outside and inside, to receive the horizontalbinder strips 49 shown in Figs. I to V and VII to X, making a desirablyflush construction, with the horizontal elements 34 of the frameembraced therebetween in abutting arrangement against the uprights inFigs. III to V and VII to X. Provision is also made of rabbeted tops onthe uprights, as indicated at 6A in Figs. III, IV, and V for a similarpurpose. The reference character 56 (see Figs. I, III and VI) designatesa notch in one of the horizontal supporting beams 38 in Figs. I, III, Vand VI, for the reception of the rabbeted ends 61 in Figs. V and VI, ofthe horizontal frame members 35 in Figs. I, III, VI and IX. Thereference numeral It] in Figs. II and IV designates a split outsideupright with rabbeted top 64 and horizontal slots 65 nailed to the Planesurfaced corner upright H as shown in II and IV, for the reception ofthe horizontal elements 34 and the inside and outside horizontal binderstrips 39, upon which is secured the fine wire fabric 41 on the insideand the coarse wire fabric 38 on the outside, and held firmly in placebetween the inside and outside horizontal binder strips 49, and thehorizontal binding strips 5E3.

On top of the inclosure is fastened the fine wire fabric d! between theupper plane surfaced top of the horizontal binders 49 on the inside ofthe outer wall, and the weather strips 69 of the top, as shown in Figs.I, IV and IX, and also, between the upper plane surfaced tops of thehorizontal frame members 35 and the weather strips 48 in Figs. I, IIIand IX, upon which is secured the coarse wire fabric 38 between theweather strips 69 and the top outside horizontal binding strips of theouter wall, and between weather strips 48 and the top outside horizontalbinding strips 59, above the horizontal frame members 35 shown in Figs.I, III, IV and IX.

The structural arrangements in the construction illustrated in Figs. Ito X are noteworthy,

contributing as they do to the fabrication of a sturdy structure withinwhich the education of the silkworms can be carried on withoutmolestation by any of these natural enemies, and in the favorableenvironment of the outer air, where they are strengthened by exposure,just as in their once natural condition.

Having thus illustrated and described my new inclosure for sericulture,I claim:

1. The novel inclosure for growing plants of the class described, havinguprights of suitable material supported in the the ground withprotecting means inside and outside and around the entire structure,said uprights being provided with rabbeted tops and a series ofcorresponding slots at uniform distances from each other cut in theouter and inner surfaces of said uprights, and spaced to receiveabutting elements horizontally joined together by horizontalbracebinders passing through the slots and secured to the uprights andelements to produce a tight-joint, and a plane surface outside andinside on which to attach and secure the protecting means of saidstructure, said inclosure being provided with an opening to be closed'byinner and outer doors, said doors having extending lips around each doorprojecting toward the door casing, and fitting over a projecting tonguemember extending beyond the door casing inside and outside including thesill, the doors fitting snugly when closed over the projecting tonguearound the door casing to which it is secured, thereby protecting theliving contents within said inclosure from external enemies.

2. An inclosure with suitable frame Work to which is secured theprotecting means throughout containing self-feeding silkworms maintainedupon growing plants of the class described, said inclosure havingreinforced and braced uprights provided with anchorage set in theground, and spaced apart in rows and cross rows, composed of outsideuprights with slots and rabbeted upper ends connected together byhorizontal elements and horizontal brace binders secured in the slotsand upon the elements forming continuous bands on the inside and outsideupon which to secure the protecting means of the inclosure, with insideuprights to support horizontal supporting beams with rabbeted endsfitting together on top of the uprights and secured thereto and providedwith a series of equally spaced notches on the upper surfaces of thehorizontal supporting beams across the inclosure in parallel rows, andintersected at right angles by horizontal frame members having rabbetedends secured in the slots of said horizontal supporting beams producinga rigidly braced framework, with plane top surface for securing theretothe protecting means, to exclude all enemies of the silkworms and theirfood plants within said inclosure.

3. An inclosure for growing plants for self feeding silkworms and forprotecting said silkworms while under education, said inclosure beingconstructed with anchored outside uprights and inside uprights information of rows and cross rows, protected by a preservative means onall sides and ends and by uniting all members before preservative isdry, thereby sealing together all of the separate members to theirrespective parts, providing plane surfaces on the inside, outsideand topof the inclosure, fine wire cloth fastened to the inner surfaces of theoutside uprights and the horizontal brace binders and secured in placeby horizontal binding strips, and fine wir cloth fastened in like mannerto the top with horizontal binder strips thus producing a doublyreinforced inside and top and coarse mesh wire fabric spaced from theinside fine wire cloth by attaching the coarse mesh wire fabric on theoutside surfaces of outside uprights and horizontal brace binders andsecured by horizontal binding strips, and coarse mesh wire fabricfastened on top of the inclosure by securing the coarse mesh wire fabricon top of the binding strips and adding thereto additional bindingstrips making triply strong the structure, the nclosure having a doorwayprovided withan inner and an outer door, the inner door including finewire cloth, and the outer door including coarse mesh wire fabric in themanner described the fine wire cloth protecting the silkworms frominsects, the coarse wire fabric protecting the fine wire fabric fromanimals, reptiles and birds.

4. An inclosure for growing plants and selffeeding silkworms of theclass described; having an underground supporting, and protecting means,the inclosure being provided with reinforced upright supporting the topframework inside and the side walls outside to which is secured theprotecting means of fine wire cloth and coarse wire fabric, above theground, spaced apart in equal parallel rows, with the lower ends of saiduprights pointed and set below the surface of the ground with projectingspikes as a mean to hold thereto a mass of concrete or suitablesubstance as an anchorage for inside and outside uprights whereverneeded to protect the inclosure from destructive winds which could raisethe said uprights from the ground, and the said inclosure being providedwith an apron of wide boards extending beneath the surface of theground, and under the outer wall of the said inclosure and secured tothe lower ends of outside uprights to form a continuous band beneath thewall of the inclosure, said outside uprights and apron having beentreated with preservative before they are put in contact with theground, to protect them from decay or destruction by burrowing enemiesof the silkworms from below the surface of the ground.

MARVIN H. MEAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Websters New InternationalDictionary of the English Language, Second Edition, Unabridged,published in 1937.

